Walking through the Pain: Kate's decade-long battle with leukemia

Catherine Wambugu, affectionately known as Katrina by those close to her, experienced persistent and heavy nosebleeding that wouldn't stop in 2012.

Concerned, she decided to see a doctor.

After undergoing a series of tests and biopsies, she received shocking news. She was diagnosed with advanced-stage leukemia.

Medics gave her just six months to live, stating that there was nothing more they could do.

"My journey began several years ago and apart from being anemic, I had no symptoms, no warning signs. My days after that were a whirlwind of doctor's appointments, chemotherapy sessions, and endless medical jargon," she says.

After the diagnosis, she started chemotherapy.

"Chemotherapy was like waging war within my own body. The potent drugs coursed through my veins, targeting the cancer cells but also ravaging my healthy ones," she says.

She lost her hair within weeks and says her reflection transformed into someone she could hardly recognize.

"The nausea was relentless, a constant reminder of the battle waging inside me," she says.

Despite the dark moments, she says her family became her support system. They gave her hope assuring her that she will go through it because she is a fighter.

"My family and friends became my lifeline; their unwavering support gave me a beacon of hope. They rallied around me, some even accompanying me to appointments, cooking meals, and simply being there when the weight of it all seemed too much to bear."

The battle with blood cancer drained her emotionally. She sunk into depression as she woke up each day knowing that she would die.

"The emotional toll was as profound as the physical one. I grappled with fear, anger, and a deep sadness. I mourned the life I had before cancer, the simplicity of it.

"I joined a support group, finding comfort in the shared experiences of others who walked a similar path. They spoke of their fears, their hopes, and the indescribable exhaustion that came with fighting an invisible enemy."

Over the years, her treatment plan evolved significantly.

It included strong medications, dietary therapies, surgery to remove tumors, a bone marrow transplant, and subsequent radiation therapy.

 "Each phase felt like it was bringing me closer to the end of my life. I developed a severe heart condition," she recalls.

However, Kate refused to give up. More than 10 years have passed since her leukemia diagnosis, and she is still fighting.

Two months ago, in March 2024, after treatments for a recurrence, her doctors gave her new hope by announcing she was in remission.

Remission means that the signs and symptoms of cancer are reduced, and it can be either partial or complete.

"The battle wasn't over, but I felt I had won a significant victory. Tears streamed down my face, and gratitude overflowed for the team that had carried me through the darkest times," she stated.

Optimistic Kate says cancer is not a death sentence but a journey.

"My journey with cancer has changed me in ways I never anticipated. I can say I have emerged with a profound appreciation for life, for the simple act of breathing, for the love that surrounds me," she says.

"In the quiet moments of dawn, I now find solace not in the silence of forgetting, but in the promise of a new day. I know the shadows of cancer will always linger, but they are no longer a source of fear. They are a reminder of my strength, courage, and the indomitable spirit that has carried me through."

National Cancer Survivors Day is celebrated each year on the first Sunday in June to recognize cancer survivors, raise awareness of the challenges they face, and celebrate life after a cancer diagnosis.

The day is dedicated to celebrating the strength, resilience, and triumph of individuals who have overcome cancer.